Enjoy October Hikes, Fall Festivities, and More on the Trail!

There are lots of upcoming hikes and activities planned for October; making it easy for you to get outside, enjoy glorious fall color, and log your miles as for the Mammoth Hike Challenge.

Get these events on your calendar and enjoy new levels of fun as you achieve 42 miles and visit 3 Trail Communities in 2022!

Saturday, OCTOBER 1: 

• Rock County: Start the Mammoth Hike Challenge with a family-friendly on-your-own StoryWalk, brought to you by the Milton Public Library. Read Listening Walk by Paul Showers as you walk along the Ice Age Trail Storrs Lake Segment and listen as the Trail comes to life around you. (The StoryWalk is available until October 9).
• Dane County: Members Only Shuttles! Enjoy the start of the Challenge with a shuttle ride to hikes at Indian Lake or the Table Bluff segments. (Registration is required to save your seat).
• Dane County: Interested in a guided hike? Look no further! Enjoy a 3-mile guided hike from the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters in Cross Plains, led by staff members, through the Andersen Preserve. This hike will showcase a variety of native flora and geological wonders.

• Walworth/Jefferson County: Get your miles in with a choose your own hike through the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. Enjoy outstanding views of Rice Lake and Whitewater Lake as you traverse through wooded moraines and kettles. (Multiple hiking distances available).
• Barron/Chippewa County: Celebrate the colors, smells, and sights of fall on the Chippewa Moraine Segment at the annual Parade of Colors Hike. Check out the David Obey Ice Age Trail Interpretive Center before or after your hike. (Multiple hiking distances available).
• Waukesha/Milwaukee County: Kick-off the “Hike It, Delafield” challenge, brought to you by the Delafield Public Library, with a variety of fall festivities. Meet Monty the Mammoth, decorate a pumpkin, enjoy a delicious root beer float, and learn you can help Delafield achieve its community goal of collectively hiking 1,000 miles in October.
• Waukesha/Milwaukee County: Participate in a family-friendly hike for your wee-walkers at Hartbrook Park.

Wednesday, OCTOBER 5:

• Dane County: Enjoy autumnal vibes at the Verona Downtown Farmer’s Market. Get your apple cider, pumpkin donuts, and fresh produce. Meet Ice Age Trail Alliance volunteers, register for the Mammoth Hike Challenge and the Dane County Hike-A-Thon. Plus, hangout with Monty the Mammoth for a bit!

Saturday, OCTOBER 8:

• Columbia County: Join Fontana Sports and the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance for a great morning on the Gibraltar Rock Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Toe the line with Ice Age Trail enthusiasts and enjoy glorious fall color run/walk along one of the Trail’s most scenic segments. (Multiple hiking distances available; $20 donation).
• Dane County: Catch a glimpse of the fall wildflowers, an oak grove, and grassy fields during a 6-mile, guided hike along the Madison Segment.

• Marathon County: Explore the scenic Ringle Segment of the Ice Age Trail during the Central Moraine Chapter’s Hike-A-Thon event. Enjoy a gold-colored forest – fall colors at their finest – with this woodland walk. Experience winding boardwalks, small kettle ponds, and an impressively large glacial erratic known as the “stone lion.” (Multiple hiking distances available; $25 donation).
• Chippewa County: Take in the views of a few of Wisconsin’s spectacular rivers and lakes during a 3.8-mile hike on the Chippewa River segment with the Chippewa Moraine Chapter. After racking up a few miles, say “hi” to Monty the Mammoth at the Cornell Visitor’s Center.
• Racine County: It’ll be fall colors galore during a hike at the R.W Wadewitz Nature Park with the Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter, and you will not want to miss it.
• Polk County: Look out for the full moon as you hike along the Straight River Segment. Join the Indianhead Chapter for a 3.4-mile full moon hike, plus and the opportunity to view the moon rising from a telescope’s view.
• Langlade County: Celebrate Langlade County Chapter’s 50th anniversary with a 5-mile hike on the Summit Moraine Segment. Enjoy the crisp fall air and crunchy leaves in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
• Lincoln County: Experience the fall colors during a 3-mile hike at the Grandfather Falls Segment. View the unique boulders and sculptured rock formations caused by thousands of years of cascading water at Grandfather Falls Dam – the largest waterfall on the Wisconsin river.
• Lincoln County: Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance and the Northwoods Chapter for a celebration of our newest Trail Community in Merrill! Meet us at Sawmill Brewing Company from 4:30-6:30pm for a casual hiker meet-up, good beer, a sweet treat, door prizes/raffle, and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Sunday, OCTOBER 9:

• Lincoln County: Why not spend the weekend in Merrill! Members-ONLY Shuttles will be available for IATA members so they can explore the local Ice Age Trail segments and get some miles in for the Mammoth Hike Challenge. (Shuttle registration is required).

Saturday, OCTOBER 15:

• Dane County: Join the Dane County Chapter for their annual Hike-A-Thon. This is a great event to get some miles in! Two hike options with different distances are available and allow you to explore segments in the Cross Plains and Verona area. Shuttles, refreshments and Ice Age Trail swag are offered. (Participants are asked to make a personal gift of $50 or more per hiker; children 12 and under are free).
• Columbia County: Get a glimpse of the emerging fall colors on a Tyke Hike with your little ones and the Lodi Valley Chapter at the Gibraltar Segment. These shorter walks are designed for young kids accompanied by an adult and focus on noticing things in nature.

Monday, October 17:

• Washington/Ozaukee County: From October 17-28, celebrate spooky season and earn some miles with the Village of Slinger’s Spooky Slinger Jack-O-Lantern Hunt. Somewhere hidden in one of the Village of Slinger parks or along the Ice Age Trail Slinger Segment in Community Park will be Jack-O-Lanterns waiting to be discovered by you. (FREE pre-registration is required by Monday, October 10).

Saturday, OCTOBER 22:

• Washington/Ozaukee County: Explore the Otten Preserve near Sunburst Ski Hill on the Kewaskum Segment during a 2.5-mile hike. After the hike, relax in the fall weather with grilled brats and hot dogs from the Washington/Ozaukee County Chapter.
• Sauk County: Dress up in your Halloween costumes and come out to Roznos Meadow for a family-friendly Halloween Trick or Treat Hike. This 2-mile guided hike will teach you about the glacial effects that created this winding meadow trail, plus you might even find some Halloween treats along the way.

Thursday, OCTOBER 27:

• Walworth/Jefferson County: Witches, goblins, and ghouls will be out in full force for Whitewater’s Ghoul’s Night Out. This event provides safe trick or treating in Downtown Whitewater, so dress up in your best Halloween costumes and be ready for lots of candy.

Make sure to check out the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Event Calendar for a full list of events! 

Special Mammoth Hike Challenge Business Promotions:

• Cornell:
  • Rise & Shine Coffee: 10% when you show the coupon in the StriveOn App.
  • Moonridge Brew Pub: free beer or soda with a large (14”) pizza.
  • Sam’s Place: free soda with your meal.
  • Dylan’s Dairy: free 2-scoop ice cream cone with a meal.
  • Big T’s North Bar & Grill: $2 off your order for each person with the StriveOn App.
  • Wisconsin Veteran’s Farm and Winery: free bottle of water for a hiker who stops by.
• Delafield:
  • Delafield Brewhaus: come try the specially made Ice Age Ale beer.
  • Green Door Café: a Free coffee or hot chocolate with any purchase if you mention the Mammoth Hike Challenge.

• Hartland: 
  • Little DipperZ: a free bottle of water with any purchase if you mention the Mammoth Hike Challenge.
• West Bend:
  • Riverside Brewery: buy one get one beer free when you mention the Mammoth Hike Challenge.

Remember to mention the Ice Age Trail and Mammoth Hike Challenge when you stop in local Trail Community businesses!